St Albans Organ Theatre
Volunteer-run museum of mechanical organs and musical instruments in St Albans, open on one Sunday afternoon a month with demonstrations and concerts.
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About the museum
The museum grew from the private collection of Charles Hart, a St Albans builder who also ran amusement parks. From the 1960s he bought nearly forty Belgian dance organs and many smaller instruments, such as musical boxes, reproducing pianos and organettes, and brought them to his premises at 320 Camp Road. On Sunday afternoons the playable instruments were demonstrated to visitors, and a free cup of tea has been offered to every visitor ever since.
In 1969 Hart bought the Wurlitzer theatre organ of the Granada Cinema in Edmonton, North London, which was about to be demolished, and later a large extension was built to house it. In 1978 he arranged for a charitable trust, the St Albans Musical Museum Society, to run the museum so that it would stay open to the public. Hart died in 1983 without hearing the Wurlitzer play in St Albans. Its restoration took about twenty years and was celebrated with an opening concert in 1992, while a second, rare theatre organ built by Spurden-Rutt was also installed.
A further extension in 1998 added seating, a dressing room and a toilet for disabled people. The museum was renamed St Albans Organ Theatre in the 2000s, and the society is still run by volunteers.
Highlights
- Wurlitzer and Rutt theatre organs
- Large Belgian dance organs, including the 121-key Decap "England’s Pride"
- Musical boxes, reproducing pianos and organettes
- Monthly Sunday openings with demonstrations and commentary
- Theatre organ concerts and special event days
- Free cup of tea for visitors
Permanent exhibitions
- Mechanical organs and instruments – Dance organs, musical boxes, organettes, reproducing pianos and other mechanical instruments, demonstrated on the monthly Sunday openings.
- Wurlitzer and Rutt theatre organs – Two restored theatre organs that are played at the theatre organ concerts.
- Founded
- 1978
- Operated by
- St Albans Musical Museum Society (registered charity)
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £8 |
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| Children & teens | £4Children aged 11 and under. |
| Groups (10+ people) | –A discount is available for parties of 10 or more if booked in advance by email. |
| Families | £20Two adults and two children. |
| Mechanical Instrument Christmas Special – adult | £12Booking in advance is advised; no family, group or other discounts. |
| Mechanical Instrument Christmas Special – child (11 and under) | £6 |
| Dance Organ Day – adult | £10Includes tea and coffee; no family tickets or concessions. |
| Dance Organ Day – child (11 and under) | £5 |
Prices are for the regular monthly Sunday openings. Tickets can be bought at the door or online. Members of the society enter free to the Sunday openings. A free cup of tea is offered to every visitor.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The building has a toilet for disabled people, added with an extension in 1998.
Kids & families
| Family ticket | £20 · Two adults and two children. |
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Family tickets and a children’s price are offered.
Getting there & parking
The museum is on Camp Road next to Camp School, by the bus stop.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Refreshments are available during the interval of the afternoon programme, and a shop sells souvenirs and CDs.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | During the Sunday openings the working instruments are demonstrated with an informal commentary, and the theatre organs are usually played. |
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